Identification of methyl salicylate as the principal volatile component in the methanol extract of root bark of Securidaca longepedunculata Fers
✍ Scribed by T. K. Jayasekara; P. C. Stevenson; S. R. Belmain; D. I. Farman; D. R. Hall
- Book ID
- 102383070
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2002
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 107 KB
- Volume
- 37
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1076-5174
- DOI
- 10.1002/jms.314
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✦ Synopsis
Securidaca longepedunculata Fers (Polygalaceae) is commonly used as a medicine in many parts of Africa and shows promise for protecting stored grain against insect pests. Analysis of a methanol extract of the root bark by gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed a major component accounting for over 90% of the volatile material. This was identified as methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate (methyl salicylate) by comparison of the GC retention times and mass spectrum with those of synthetic standards. This conflicts with an earlier report that the major component is methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate. Two minor components had mass spectra characteristic of 2-hydroxybenzoate esters and were identified as methyl 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoate and its benzyl analogue, again conflicting with an earlier report.